Glypican 3
Encyclopedia
Glypican-3 is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the GPC3 gene
. The protein
encoded by this gene is a member of the glypican
family.
proteoglycan
s are composed of a membrane-associated protein core substituted with a variable number of heparan sulfate chains. Members of the glypican-related integral membrane proteoglycan family (GRIPS) contain a core protein anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane via a glycosyl
phosphatidylinositol
linkage. These proteins may play a role in the control of cell division
and growth regulation.
.
has utility for differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) and dysplastic changes in cirrhotic
liver
s; HCC stains with glypican 3, while liver with dysplastic changes and/or cirrhotic changes
does not.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the GPC3 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
. The protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
encoded by this gene is a member of the glypican
Glypican
The glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans are anchored to the cell-surface via a covalent linkage to glycosylphosphatidylinositol . Six glypican family members have been identified in vertebrates, two in Drosophila and one in C. elegans.Glypicans can modify cell signaling pathways and...
family.
Structure and function
Cell surface heparan sulfateHeparan sulfate
Heparan sulfate is a linear polysaccharide found in all animal tissues. It occurs as a proteoglycan in which two or three HS chains are attached in close proximity to cell surface or extracellular matrix proteins...
proteoglycan
Proteoglycan
Proteoglycans are proteins that are heavily glycosylated. The basic proteoglycan unit consists of a "core protein" with one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan chain. The point of attachment is a Ser residue to which the glycosaminoglycan is joined through a tetrasaccharide bridge...
s are composed of a membrane-associated protein core substituted with a variable number of heparan sulfate chains. Members of the glypican-related integral membrane proteoglycan family (GRIPS) contain a core protein anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane via a glycosyl
Glycosyl
A glycosyl group is a univalent free radical or substituent structure obtained by removing the hemiacetal hydroxyl group from the cyclic form of a monosaccharide and, by extension, of a lower oligosaccharide....
phosphatidylinositol
Phosphatidylinositol
Phosphatidylinositol is a negatively charged phospholipid and a minor component in the cytosolic side of eukaryotic cell membranes....
linkage. These proteins may play a role in the control of cell division
Cell division
Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells . Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle. This type of cell division in eukaryotes is known as mitosis, and leaves the daughter cell capable of dividing again. The corresponding sort...
and growth regulation.
Disease linkage
Deletion mutations in this gene are associated with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndromeSimpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome
Simpson–Golabi–Behmel syndrome , also called Bulldog syndrome, Sara Agers syndrome, Golabi–Rosen syndrome, Simpson dysmorphia syndrome or X-linked dysplasia gigantism syndrome , is a rare inherited congenital disorder with widely variable expression, causing craniofacial and other abnormalities.It...
.
Diagnostic utility
Glypican 3 immunostainingImmunostaining
Immunostaining is a general term in biochemistry that applies to any use of an antibody-based method to detect a specific protein in a sample. The term immunostaining was originally used to refer to the immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections, as first described by Albert Coons in 1941...
has utility for differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
(HCC) and dysplastic changes in cirrhotic
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
s; HCC stains with glypican 3, while liver with dysplastic changes and/or cirrhotic changes
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
does not.